Believe it or not, at one point in Croydon’s history the town was a place which awoke at night, mainly due to the sheer amount of pubs and bars which were dotted around the borough.

But in recent years a number of these hostelries have closed, and are now regularly being turned into supermarkets or are being demolished to make way for residential development.

For those with longer memories, a night down the boozer was somewhat a tradition and was either a way of meeting up with friends, relaxing after a hard day’s work or just an excuse to get away from the wife.

A handful of pubs and bars around the UK are now being forced to shut daily, mainly due to the increase in cost of buying beer from breweries and people choosing to stay in more often.

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But despite some popular boozers being forced to close over the years, the many happy memories experienced by those who went there will always live on.

With that in mind, Advertiser journalist Sam Truelove has listed nine pubs and bars which have left a lasting impact on many Croydon residents.

The Black Sheep Bar

Known to be Croydon’s longest-standing independent nightclub, The Black Sheep Bar sadly closed after 15 years of trading in 2013.

Perfectly positioned on the High Street, the bustling boozer had cheap prices as well as good music, making it one of the go-to spots come a weekend.

The bar played a variety of music genres, from jazz to metal to dance, hip-hop and drum and bass.

Drinks stopped being served five years ago when the landlord called it a day amid plans for a potential housing development at the site.

Paul Bossick, who owner The Black Sheep Bar when it was open, told the Advertiser in January: “It was really a bar for everybody. It kind of developed into its own identity. It had a bit of an alternative edge but it soon had a following that had a different style [and] more extreme music.”

The Black Sheep Bar closed in 2013 (Image: David Cook)

Yates’s

The bar was well known for its cheap prices, and many flocked on a Friday or Saturday night due to its prime location in the centre of Croydon.

Located on the high Street, Yates’s was a great place to stop in for a discount round – and maybe a go on the ever-popular karaoke machine.

But after two decades of good times had at the bar, it closed its doors in 2015.

The premises has since been turned into a Five Guys, which opened in August 2017.

The former Yates premises on High Street have now been converted into burger restaurant Five Guys (Image: Paul Martyniuk)

The Gun Tavern

The pub, in Church Street, close to Surrey Street Market, closed in October 2012 when it became an American burger and steak restaurant.

The boozer had been serving a range of beers and ales to locals since at least the 1880s.

In more modern times it was a well-known attraction for heavy rock bands playing at weekends and also put on jazz evenings.

The Gun Tavern, in Church Street, Croydon, closed in October 2012

The Swan and Sugarloaf

This landmark building, in Brighton Road, South Croydon, was constructed in 1896 and was even on the bus timetables.

But the old building is now used by shoppers not late-night revellers.

A Tesco Express store now occupies the space – once filled with people sipping pints - after the pub closed in 2011.

The Swan and Sugarloaf closed in 2011 and is now a Tesco Express (Image: Grant Melton)

Tiger Tiger

The high-profile nightclub controversially shut its doors in the High Street in January 2016 and part of the large venue has since been converted into a Turtle Bay restaurant.

At the time of the closure, Croydon Council leader Tony Newman called the club “dated” and said it shutting was a sign the town was changing for the better.

But the 2,430 capacity venue, located on Croydon High Street, will be remembered for different reasons, most notably the quality music throughout its seven rooms. It also regularly hosted comedy nights and other live entertainment.

Tiger Tiger's old site in Croydon which closed in January 2016 (Image: Danny Fitzpatrick)

The Red Lion

Originally, this was the only pub in the centre of Coulsdon and would have been used by generations of families.

The grand-looking exterior with black wooden beams was hard to miss as you drove through Coulsdon.

It was a sad day for Coulsdon residents when the Brighton Road pub closed, as was when it was controversially knocked down in later years.

After the site was used as a temporary car park for a number years that followed, it is now home to an Aldi supermarket.

The Red Lion, in Coulsdon, shortly before its closure

The Edge

The live music venue located in the heart of South Croydon, on South End, made a name for itself for hosting open jam nights, acoustic sessions and live bands.

Its beer garden was used by many in the summer until it closed in August 2017.

The pub, which was home to The Blacksmith's Arms at one point, has now been renovated into The Keg and Grill.

Trading since December last year, the pub still serves plenty of pints as well as serving up some tasty sounding Lebanese food.

A band playing at The Edge before it closed in August 2017

Bar Txt

This popular bar, on South End, in South Croydon closed its doors in February 2017.

Known for its extravagant cocktails and party, feel good atmosphere, it is one of many pubs or bars to close in South Croydon in recent years.

A statement posted on the Bar Txt Instagram account at the time of closing said it was “shocked” and “upset” over the closure.

In the statement, the owners added: “We have enjoyed being involved in so many of your awesome nights and in being part of the South Croydon community, so we’re very sad to be leaving.

“It’s been a crazy, wonderful few years and we’ll miss you all.”

Txt Bar, in South Croydon, closed in February 2017 (Image: David Cook)

The Red Deer

Located on Brighton Road, in South Croydon, The Red Deer was another of Croydons many pubs which usually attracted a younger crowd.

But a pint hasn’t been poured there ever since it closed and was boarded up in 2013.

The building has since been converted into a Morrisons supermarket.

Do you have a memory of a pub or bar which recently closed in Croydon? Share your memories by emailing sam.truelove@croydonadvertiser.co.uk or by tweeting @samtruelove1.